Page 20 - Brandon Sun - Healthy Lifestyles

20 THE BRANDON SUN • HEALTH • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

Sophrology: what you need to know

Developed in the 1960s by
the Colombian neuropsychia-
trist Alfonso Caycedo, sophrol-
ogy is an increasingly popular
meditation and mindfulness
technique. While it offers an
assortment of benefits associ-
ated with meditation and relax-
ation, it should be approached
with caution.

WHAT IS IT?

Sophrology combines mind-
fulness meditation, breathing
exercises, body awareness and
visualization techniques. It’s in-
spired by a wide range of Asian
and European traditions.
It became popular when
three Swiss skiers trained in
sophrology by Caycedo won
gold medals at the 1968 Winter
Olympics. Before long, people
were using sophrology to pre-
pare for everything from exams
to work presentations. Some
French schools even teach it to
students as a way to cope with
stress.

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT IT?

Sophrology is more goal-ori-
ented than other meditation
techniques and focuses on vi-
sualizing yourself performing a
difficult task or getting through
a stressful situation successfully.
It doesn’t involve any physi-
cal work. All that’s needed is a
chair and the voice of a trained
sophrologist.

HOW IS IT PRACTISED?

This meditation technique
relies on being guided through
a series of exercises by an expert
sophrologist. Sophrology has meditation and visualization refer to sophrology as a life- fit from sophrology, remember
12 levels, each of which must are well-known, and sophrol- style, but it’s only accessible if that it’s not a substitute for
be attained with the help of a ogy can likely help you lower you pay someone to guide you proper medical care. It might
guide. your overall level of stress. It through its 12 levels. While be an effective complementary
may also help you prepare for the majority of sophrologists treatment, but it shouldn’t re-
situations that worry you. are no doubt well-intentioned, place the advice of a healthcare
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE? this opens the door to abusive professional.
However, caution should be practices.
The benefits of relaxation, exercised. Many practitioners If you think you may bene- » Wire Services